De Blasio said that the U.S. should boycott Saudi Airlines, and that the Israeli-Cornell campus that his predecessor Michael Bloomberg set in motion in NY is “an extraordinary transcendent development” that will go forward under his administration.

He described deep connections between Israel and New York: The city has no greater alliance across borders than with Israel, Israel and NY share philosophical and democratic values, Israel has inspired NY being on the frontlines of terrorism, and Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer should move to NY after he’s done his job.

And that de Blasio’s “mission” and “job description” is to fight for Israel:

“Part of my job description is to be a defender of Israel…City Hall will always be open to AIPAC. When you need me to stand by you in Washington or anywhere, I will answer the call and I will answer it happily, because that’s my job.”

Who knew? The Times is calling it a “private” speech. “The speech [at the Hilton in Manhattan] was not included on de Blasio’s public schedule, and a Capital reporter who attempted to report on the event was escorted by event security from the third floor to the lobby,” Goldenberg reports.

Excerpts of the tape:

De Blasio asks Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer to move to NY after his term as Israeli ambassador. “Always looking to bring more talent to NY.”

The mayor says he feels a “special obligation” to support Israel.

“Part of my job description is to be a defender of Israel. … There is a philosophical grounding to my belief in Israel… but it is also something that is elemental to being an American, because there is no greater ally on earth… no deeper connection across boundaries than this connection we share. For a lot of reasons.”

These include the largest Jewish community outside Israel living in NY. But: “It’s also about values. Israeli society, the belief in democracy.” And we also value open discourse in NY, and have great pride in this place.

Israelis know the constant fear, the constant horror of terror. They refused to let it stop them. We take inspiration from Israel for how it has stared down terrorism and kept moving forward… As mayor I am committed to not just maintaining an alliance but strengthening an alliance between Israel and New York and Israel and the United States of America.

Reports Goldenberg: “Two attendees even joked that he ever once used the word ‘progressive,’ a mainstay in most of his public speeches.”

He mentions three trips to Israel, including one he made with his wife Chirlane McCray and son Dante a few years ago.

“We saw the challenges at each of the borders….It was when we went to Sderot that I was most moved…. You can’t have an experience like that and not feel solidarity with the people of Israel. And know that they’re on the front line of fighting against so many challenges..

The science center is “an extraordinary transcendent development.” It is going to enrich our lives, and the people of Israel. And it is one example of a deeper economic relationship.
In conclusion:

You have a friend and an ally at city Hall. That City Hall will always be open to AIPAC. When you need me to stand by you in Washington or anywhere, I will answer the call and I will answer it happily, because that’s my job.

My comment: The lobby is structural. Bill de Blasio went to Nicaragua to support the Sandinistas and he hates racism and he can spend political capital to fight for economic justice and scrimp on snow-removal on the Upper East Side, but: he’s hamstrung on this issue. The most progressive forces in the U.S. have been corrupted by the Israel lobby. The most leftleaning/realist public figures one can imagine getting into important offices, from Barack Obama to Bill de Blasio to Samantha Power to Chuck Hagel, and they have no choice but to truckle to the lobby, because the lobby is so enmeshed in our (political/financial/media) Establishment, and because the party needs the money. It’s that simple.

I’m not sure they have a choice to show deference but I am absolutely certain that they have a choice not to be as slavish as de Blasio is in his speech.

It’s pretty shocking how he would describe Israel. I wonder what’s worst: that he really believes his lies about Israeli democracy and “shared values”(would he support Apartheid in NYC?) or that he doesn’t but still says them out of lack of a principled spine?

Krauss says:
January 24, 2014 at 4:27 pm
I’m not sure they have a choice to show deference >>>>

Yes, they have a choice, they just take the easy way out.
To take AIPAC out of their party they’d have to huddle, organize, agree to take on what is actually best for the country and formulate a message and platform on that–and actually fund raise among Americans.
But thats too much work for them.
I would bet that anyone here could face a crowd of thousands of Americans, tell them what the ‘real’ deal is with Israel and the Lobby
tell them everything that has gone on since ’48, explain the problem and danger of ‘unconditional support of Isr and what it has cost Americans—-and ask them if they want Israel or them to come first in America—–and walk away with their vote—and leave the zios eating dirt.
American First sells like hot cakes —-but someone has to be offering it —and no one is.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have become “good buddies”,while the US and SA are going separate ways.

As long as the questions like “Does Israel control the Lobby or vice versa?”,”Are all Lobby decisions coordinated with Israel and vice versa?”,”How big is the split between Israel and the Lobby and why?” are not being adressed,these kind of contradictions will continue.

There’s nothing strange about what de Blasio is saying if you understand who controls who.

i just had to take a break from reading, have not finished post yet. this is just … gag me..is there nothing they won’t say? and how is this not dual loyalty???

my belief in Israel… is .. something .. elemental to being an American, … no deeper connection

not really bill! because i am an american and it’s not “elemental” for me, in the least! and i think i speak for many americans. maybe he needs a dictionary to fully understand the meaning of ‘elemental’ or maybe he just needs to start speaking for himself instead of what it means to the rest of us what it means to be an american. they are not even a civic nationalist state bill! that’s a fundamental difference and runs counter to american values!

oh, and i learned a new word: truckle. i have a horrible vocabulary and i read words all the time phil uses i am unfamiliar with. i should start mentioning it every time it happens.

@ Annie Robbins
Not to worry. Actually; you don’t even need to be a graduate of a super-expensive Ivy League school to know words like “truckle.” I went to cheap community colleges in Chicago and learned such words there. All you needed was to have some interest in English and Literature.

My [step] dad raised me in the belief to embrace the world as it is, but not be manhandled by any entity of it or a single individual on it. Watching this crapola tells me he was right back then and still is today. Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve got some mouth vomit to remove.

Greetings Annie,
If i may save you some ‘looking up’ time:
‘truckle’ = old French after 1066AD in England.
– a pulley-, used by servants.
A truckler was one who submits to another.
Mayor De Blasio, …..because its my Job……..
Mayor De Blasio is a Mayor of a City, not even a Govenor!
Where’s his mandate, as a Mayor of a City, to speak for a foreign Country?
Oy, weh! N.Y.C. has no problems to tackle?
ziusudra

Oh well. Yes, protect Israel at all costs. Of course. Duh! We (proudly!) live in the USA! USA: a tribute-paying instructing-taking dependency of Israel as far as I can see, perhaps even (post 1967) taking moral/ethical instruction from Israel. Poor benighted USA taking moral instruction from the latest, nastiest (and only substantially law-breaking: due to changes in the law) settler colonial power.

But at conference of USA’s mayors, while asking for cities to improve education for the prekindergarten set — BECAUSE the federal government will not do it — not a word about a duty (if any?) of cities to move to defeat/mitigate/prepare-for-the-savage-attack-of CLIMATE CHANGE.

It all seems rather opportunistic. the world, the nation, and the city face real problems and the politicians (Obama, DeBlasio notable among them) deal only with popularly-recognized “problems” without admitting that they have a DUTY to TEACH/EDUCATE so that the poor benighted electorate will KNOW what the real problems are.

Drifting off into the sunset.

Guess deBlasio picks his battles for political acceptability, not for moral or ethical reasons.

Mr. Mayor, sure hope you don’t plan to return to Israel anytime soon, I’d hate to read that the Israeli government mistook your family for protesting refuges and summarily arrested/returned them to their guarded refuge camps.

There are well over 1,000,000 Jews in New York City – the vast majority of who – unlike you – comprehend the importance of Israel’s survival to the Jewish people. In your haste to reflexively perpetuate the anti-Semitic theme of the U.S. Government being controlled by the Jews, it probably did not occur to you that the mayor was simply responding to the concerns of his constituents.

Every American is told in so many ways to be ready to take care of Israel. Bible helps some, , love for democracy helps some,love for shared values help some ,love for defense help some. Weather and cuisine might also be included soon in one of these days. ( it snows there not far from Negev desert,and has mountain and sea ) as other reasons to support Israel. Reasons are shriveling in number and essence as the meat in the spiel are rotting from inside out. Those ” loves” are taught to be loved to even die for in case the loving object is threatened by the passerby of the history who don’t have 2000 years worth of walking towards that soil.
The root of this psychological maneuver started decades ago . America was rebranded repigeonholed,re categorized,relabeled as ” an idea” , ” a propositional nation” , ‘ a refuge for the brave and for the persecuted who are ready to fight for the persecuted ” ,” a nation not an island of isolation ” , ” not isolationist ” not uninterested in getting involved in European mess of religious and royal fights ” of modern day of early 20 th century ” . This rebranding has forced the morphing of peace as war, defense as preemptive offense, not taking sides in unjust conflicts by unjust parties as isolationism and managing the domestic crisis instead of military intervention of dubious benefit as contemptible retreat.

>> There are well over 1,000,000 Jews in New York City – the vast majority of who – unlike you – comprehend the importance of Israel’s survival to the Jewish people. … the mayor was simply responding to the concerns of his constituents.

1. Jewish Americans do not need a colonialist, expansionist and supremacist “Jewish State” carved out of Palestine in order to survive.
2. He’s an American, the mayor of an American city, and his constituents are Americans. He has no business pledging his allegiance to a supremacist foreign state and to its lobby in America.

“The unnamed official, quoted by Israel Radio, said that “Jewish activity” in Congress, which was perceived by Kerry and Obama to be backed by the Israeli government, was unsettling the two American leaders.”

Read more: White House reportedly uneasy with Jewish lobbying in Congress | The Times of Israel link to timesofisrael.com
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

Shuki – well over 1M?? I don’t think so, not unless you count LI and NJ as part of NYC. You’re talking the metropolitan area, a lot of which is outside de Blasio’s influence, meaning they are not his “constituents” or voters. Check your numbers.

Regardless of how far out on LI they live, Jews have money, and that is the point here. Money – not votes, not “constituents.” That is always the point with Jews and AIPAC and American politicians. How many Jewish constituents does John McCain have? And how many Mexican-American constituents? Which group’s ass does he suck, aka truckle? (You’re right, annie. Great word.)

Even if we take your inflated number, it’s only about 13% of the total NYC pop. and an even smaller % of the metro. What % is Muslim? How about Hispanic? Irish? Italian? Jews and Asians have about the same size of the demographic pie in the metro area – which has the most political clout with pols like de Blasio?

My point being that by sucking up to AIPAC de Blasio is not pandering to voters; he’s pandering to donors.

These “progressive” Democrats who come busting in, promising a new approach – they’re really just the same-old-same-old. They’ll say what they have to say to get the votes, and do what they have to do to get the money.

A flock of Democrats will replace a mess of Republicans. It won’t mean a thing. They will go in like all the rest of ’em. Go in on promises and come out on alibis. — Will Rogers

de Blasio:

“City Hall will always be open to AIPAC,” he said. “When you need me to stand by you in Washington or anywhere, I will answer the call and I’ll answer it happily ’cause that’s my job.”

By “job” he means the job AIPAC is paying him to do, not the job the people of NYC elected him to do, which is why the speech was sub rosa. When he makes that city-hall-is-always-open offer to the American-Ethiopian Political Action Committee, I’ll believe in the great Democratic progressive agenda. Until then, it’s just another round of hope-a-dope.

Very interesting expose’ Phil, Goldenburg, and whomever carried that recording out of the AIPAC meeting. AIPAC will likely go after you all for copyright violation, which would be a great lawsuit. You could depose AIPAC and find out how much they paid de Blasio for the speech, which is to say for access to city hall.

Annie and Denis: Keep on Trucklin’ ! And on that thought, why do we call the political “trucklin'” to big-money by innocuous names (like trucklin’) instead of more descriptive words like “prostituting themselves”?

Antisemitism, in its current context, is an Apartheid word as it embraces only a select few, while simultaneously excluding all others. Those who perpetuate the use of it, in its current context, thus become ardent supporters of Apartheid.

@ Shuki “There are well over 1,000,000 Jews in New York City – the vast majority of who – unlike you – comprehend the importance of Israel’s survival to the Jewish people”

They do? Then they should ask themselves why any state in continual breach of International Law (all law is binding), the UN Charter (binding in its entirety) and relative conventions reaffirmed, emphasized and recalled in HUNDREDS of UNSC resolutions giving that state an OPPORTUNITY to adhere to those Laws, Charter and conventions, should be allowed to continue?

They should then ask themselves why they’re not demanding the Jewish state adhere to its legal obligations.

“In your haste to reflexively perpetuate the anti-Semitic theme of the U.S. Government being controlled by the Jews, it probably did not occur to you that the mayor was simply responding to the concerns of his constituents”

But dear Shuki, the Jews of New York are a MINORITY. If he is simply responding to their concerns, they ARE controlling the Government in as much as he is concerned

There sure are a whole lot of politicians these days pandering to Jewish concerns over their Zionist fiefdom! Forgive us for stating the obvious; but, who’s fault is it?
Maybe you should advise your fellow Zionist clan members to be a little more discreet when they throw their weight around.

While I understand your point about there being a large community, but he speaks of prejudice while ignoring the prejudice the Palestinians. How can he have the gall to praise Israel and refer to values and racism when ignoring the openly racist statements the Palestinians deal with from Israeli politicians? Yes, I understand there are 1,000,000 Jews in the city, but no mayor should be saying that he’s open to the British, French, or Israeli lobby. It’s a de facto foreign lobby, though de jure wise, it’s a domestic one. I think we need to limit the influence of all lobby groups whether it connects to corporations or foreign policy groups. The American public, at large, is being taken on a ride to various wars it doesn’t want to get into. I get the point that one needs to show one’s sensitive to major communities in one’s city, what Israel is doing to the Palestinians and their families is repugnant. How do American Jews really need that? And many in AIPAC have been butting heads with many Jews over taking Bibi’s idea of going against Obama over Iran after all Obama has done for Israel. And you can’t say he hasn’t done much. He has given more financial and military aid to Israel than any other recent American president. It’s a fact.

Greetings Shuki,
…comprehend the importance of Israel’s survival to the Jewish People…….
The more like 2 Million Jews are doing well in my home town.
That’s where his loyalty should be. US Jews have no truck with
Zionistan except for lip service or they would have migrated long ago.
Me Grannies always spoke of the lemon groves in Sicily, but they ne’er
went back. I can tell you this, i eat Pasta once a week to renew my loyalty
to Italy. N.Y. Jews, i’m sure eat bagels daily, they won’t forget to donate.
ziusudra
PS The Mayor should simply respond to the concerns of all N.Y.ers for
solving N.Y.’s Problems.

Shuki says:
January 24, 2014 at 11:03 am
There are well over 1,000,000 Jews in New York City – the vast majority of who – unlike you – comprehend the importance of Israel’s survival to the Jewish people.>>>

There are 7,000,000 non Jews in NY.
List the reasons please why you think the survival of Jews or Israel should be of paramount importance to them and in their city mayor.

I say more power to the Mayor, he came within a whisker of saying Israel is more important to him than the US, many people will take that as the logical conclusion of his remarks, maybe it won’t harm him in New York, but it will not be lost on the wider US electorate.

My first reaction on reading this post was one of outrage at yet another American politician doing the donkey. On calmer reflection, my outrage turned to joy – not because of de Blasio kowtowing to the Lobby, but because of the speed and facility with which these acts of dual loyalty are being reported to the public through the alternate media now.

It seems that nowadays, the revelations are coming fast and furiously. Not a day goes by without reports and increased visibility of Israel’s influence on our government through its many agents and our venal politicians. We are waking up, albeit slowly, but the writing is clearly on the wall. The world was already aware, and now America is becoming more aware each day. The Lobby has become very powerful, but that power has now started to erode. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The crash will be sudden and fatal.

The venom of the commentators is a sight to behold! They are as seething cauldrons of hatred and racist rage, while still loudly proclaiming their victimhood. Once upon a time, when I knew a lot less than I know now, they would have garnered my sympathy, but not anymore. A nation built in large part of vitriolic people such as these will not survive for long.

So, I rejoice each day that the yoke on our country to do the bidding of our zionist masters will be lifted soon. Dawn is breaking and as the warm light of day touches our shores, these vermin and all the other nocturnal denizens of the dark will either slither and crawl away or perish in the heat of the morning sun.

Retribution is frequently tardy, and sometimes the perpetrators die before it comes, but, come it will on those that remain.

These Israeli- firsters have no concern for poor Palestinins and Palestinian kids (with invitations to foreign educational institutions) that Israel does not allow to leave their country or even try to buy a ticket. I think that given the behavior of Israel and AIPAC in the US, we are justified in accusing these US Jews of a serious conflict of interest when it comes to all aspects of Israeli politics, domestic or foreign. Their unconditional and irrational support for Israel has resulted in a total disaster for the Palestinian people. They are to blame, because their blind encouragement of Israel has emboldened the nuts in Israel to displace, oppress and occupy the Palestinians resulting in the present outrageous situation. I do not hate Jews but I hate what Israel has done to the Palestinian hopes for a country and Statehood.

“Once upon a time, when I knew a lot less than I know now, they would have garnered my sympathy, but not anymore.”

Growing up, we were told that Israel was an ally of the US but now I see that Israel only helps itself like a giant vacuum. If they would have stopped the racket years ago and agreed to a real & lasting peace they definitely would not have the terribly negative perception of the entire world.

link to jpost.com
“Out of the 22 countries polled, the majority in 17 of them view Israel negatively, while only three (the US, Nigeria and Kenya) view Israel positively. “

James Canning says:
January 25, 2014 at 2:06 pm
To what extent has foolishness on the part of the US Congress helped to create this situation?>>>>

They are ultimately responsible for it.
It was their responsibility to guard the gates and they didnt.
They are corrupt self serving filth…I despise them more than I despise the zionist.
There will always be groups like the zionist seeking to subvert US power and resources for their own agenda by using our own tools of democracy against us.
This is why whatever is done about Israel still wont be the end of this kind of problem unless we change the rules for politicians to ensure they cant keep selling US policy.

“The New York Times article, which focused on Zimmer’s political ascent and reputation both for honesty and not always being “the easiest person to bond with,” did not mention the Jewish identity of the woman who was elected the first Jewish mayor of Hoboken in 2009.” This is in Haaretz today (Israeli newspaper) about Mayor Zimmer who has attacked the Gov of NJ. I think that this is serious problem that the protected American media never mention. The Jewish identity of so many in the press may in many cases be a huge conflict of interest when it comes to discussing Israeli politics in a rational manner. Am I wrong ? Many would call be an anti-Semite for raising this issue but I am not.

Q: Many would call be an anti-Semite for raising this issue but I am not.

R: If you hate Palestinians and Muslims as well, you may proudly call yourself a full fledged Anti Semite.

“For he spoke of the promised land, unto those who did not know the difference between a betrothal and a brothel, thus were sent astray on a path that the Lord hathet set aside for them.” – J.C. [during a dream in the desert].

The long list of those elected leaders at State,County,Federal level adding the responsibility to defend,support,nurture and guard the interest of Israel in their job description (for Mark and Schumer – that is the only daily duty ) now include
Blasio. Mark Kirk, Schumer, GOP 2012 Presidential candidates and some from Democrat like Biden.
The official door whether it is WH or NewYork Mayoral city council office is and will always remain open to the AIPAC or the Major Zionist Organization of America.
Mayor does not want ” theSaudi Airlines ,”in case he is provided with new information, different perspectives,non Zionist solution to his electoral ( future) or official problem,or contradictory facts ,different set of evaluation of US interest that undercut AIPAC and Israeli views . May be that is the reason ,he will not meet with Palestinian ,or BDS,or travel to Gaza and West Bank or speak to an Iranian MP.
AIPAC works in many ways . But two of them are always linked and always operational-1 lie as much as possible as long as long as possible from as many platforms as possible to reach as many as possible while removing the same opportunities to the opposition and destroy any attempt to refute the lies,correct the misinformation,and chart the course based on truth or on the American interest or both.
Blasio might be genuinely concerned of the concerns of the 1 million Jews in NY. But he should be more concerned of the interest of the remaining,responsibility to the remaining,moral obligation to seek fact based solution,ethical attitude to seek and understand the reality and not to succumb to the temptation of the combination of the glorified exposure to media,money,access,and should have the moral strength not to fear of being called antisemite or Chamberlain by the organization hell bent to start war for the sake of Israel .
I wonder what Blasio would say about the observations by Gates that ” pro Israeli ” folks in the administration had been trying often successfully to get US fight war for Israel . The long list of the people who have felt that way are many – Barry Goldwater, Powell, Blair ( UK) ,W Clarke, Buchanan, Congressmen like R.Paul ,Mike Grovel of Alaska ,Earnest F Hollings of S Carolina and even the Army Intelligence.
Blasio is ignoring the reality that is flashing red for attention. American interest lies in shutting his door to AIPAC and cutting his official phone line to Tel Aviv.

It amazes me that I STILL get shocked to see the lobby’s raw power manifest itself this way when I know logically there isn’t a notable public figure that isn’t bought, lock stock and barrel by them. But being optimistic for a second, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s brainwashed or that he’s happy to display such mind-numbing obsequiousness in public. The fact that he was speaking at an Israel Lobby function means you know what he’s going to say, does it really matter to what degree he grovels?

link to timesofisrael.com says that Obama administration is unsettled,upset,and unhappy with the effort of the Jewish lobby regarding Iran and sanction. It also says WH believes that the lobby is backed by Israeli government.
The very mention of origin government ‘s backing should make the Justice department to investigate the lobby as foreign lobby and should force it to consider investigating the ways and means used by the lobby to influence government foreign policy. The blurring of what is allowed and what is not ,should be brought out open to American public. American should
know how their tax payers money is spent in influencing foreign policy at the behest of the foreign government and how their representatives waste time and energy on one area to the exclusion of other ,often with conflicts of interest generated by the received campaign money , and how that money buy them the power to hurt American interest.

I guess de Blasio’s campaign slogan “Tales of Two Cities” referred to New York and Tel Aviv.

I am not shocked, disgusted, but not shocked. AIPAC lobbying has reached new heights, it’s on steroids because the opposition and activism has become stronger and more vocal. There is less fear to call out Israel’s human rights transgressions. This had been stifled and silenced for so long, but something changed and now people are no longer as afraid. As the saying goes, Fear of the wolf makes it look bigger than it actually is.

So, when this is taken into consideration AIPAC’s actions are only a sign of the strength of our position. And the more they try to buy off our elected officials, and the more they lobby for military actions, and the more they push the boundaries of deceit, the greater the chances that they will stumble….and of course, the greater will be the outrage.

It’s all Shakespearean tragedy at this point. He wrote the script on ambition and deception of this magnitude, and the end never bodes well.

When the mayor of NYC says “Part of my job description is to be a defender of Israel” then he is confirming the horrible enormous problem created by the zealous, thoughtless, selfish organizations like AIPAC who blindly support Israel and tried to force the rest of us to do the same. Is it anti-Semitic to say that most of these people are Jews and have a huge conflict of interest when they try to enforce their irrational goals upon the rest of us ?

Here is another outrageous example below of the malign influence of Israel, US Jews and their organizations on our citizens. The latest outrage is the State Senate of Georgia, which on January 15 adopted resolution 739 which declares,

“Israel is neither an attacking force nor an occupier of the land of others, and that peace can be afforded only through a whole and united Israel … including the areas of Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.”

This follows almost identical resolutions adopted by both houses of the Florida state legislature in 2012 and by South Carolina’s House of Representatives in 2011. The Republican National Committee has also adopted similar language. It is difficult to combat people with a lot of money and an irrational desire to force Americans (by any means) to share their irrational goals of a greater Israel.

What makes this particularly disgusting is that, despite all that guff about supporting Israel being “elemental to being an American,” he still tried hard to hide his pandering from the public. (It appears the NYT got ahold of a leaked recording.)

He knew better, and that makes this a perfect display of the brute force of Jewish power in American politics.

What was striking to me was how ignorant de Blasio’s comments were. I have to wonder if he really believes in what he was saying, or if he was just trying to get the support of the Israeli lobby and pro-Israeli Jews.

For instance, he said that his commitment to Israel is “also about values. Israeli society, the belief in democracy.” Seeing as Israel is committed to privileging one ethnic group over all others and making that the basis of its statecraft, it is incredibly ignorant to say Israel is a democracy. As Max Blumenthal correctly points out, even a cursory glance at Israel’s domestic policies reveals that Israel is not a democracy but an ethnocracy.

He also says “Israelis know the constant fear, the constant horror of terror. They refused to let it stop them. We take inspiration from Israel for how it has stared down terrorism and kept moving forward…” This also strikes me as ignorant because it fails to acknowledge that Israel through its own conduct inspired “terrorism” – i.e. armed resistance to its policies of military occupation and ethnic discrimination. Does de Blasio think that New Yorkers should dispossess and occupy members of a non-privileged group, and when such people rise up in resistance, occupy their lands, build walls around them, use massively disproportionate lethal force against them, and collectively punish an entire population (the Gaza strip) in an attempt to subdue them? Some inspiration.

He described deep connections between Israel and New York: The city has no greater alliance across borders than with Israel, Israel and NY share philosophical and democratic values, Israel has inspired NY being on the frontlines of terrorism, and Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer should move to NY after he’s done his job.

When was the last time Israel bailed New York out a financial crisis? Some of us taxpayers from other states are old enough to remember the President dipping into our national pocketbook because “the leaders of New York State and of New York City have been working to overcome the financial difficulties of the city which, as a result of many years of unsound fiscal practices, unbalanced budgets, and increased borrowing, threaten to bring about municipal bankruptcy of an unprecedented magnitude.” See The President’s News Conference, November 26, 1975, Statement on Measures Taken to Improve the Financial Situation of New York City. link to presidency.ucsb.edu

It’s just not sustainable. They need to do way too much work and after a while they think they are untouchable and they start doing stuff that’s really stupid. And they don’t have a reliable constituency amongst the people because they are a small but very well connected minority. And then the people turn against them.
That is always the way . It is like a law of the planet.

This is absolutely correct. Rabbi Meir Kahane founded the terrorist group Jewish Defense League in New York in 1968 before he founded another terrorist organisation in Israel. And according to the FBI, Jews commited more terrorist attacks in the US between 1980 and 2005 than Muslims.

The interesting thing is that the speech was supposed to be secret. Why? Does anyone buy DeB’s explanation that AIPAC wanted it that way? Typically the group revels in demonstrations of politician fealty. So I would think DeB is lying here–that it was his decision to try for secrecy. I suspect he has his eye on higher office (Mayor is tough, especially if Wall Street cools off, which it is bound to). So he makes “secret speeches” to right wing foreign affairs groups. I hope the “AIPAC secret speech” meme trails around him forever.

I think AIPAC usually does like public speeches of loyalty to Israel by politicians-but I have noticed before that most of the time these private speeches to Jewish groups are not for public dissemination.
I think the secretcy is agreed on by both the org or AIPAC and the politician because his pandering is going to be even more extreme than it would be in public and raise even more accusations of ‘fifth column’ if the public heard it.
And for both the org and the politician the more he arouses the approval of the Zionistas and I-Fristdom the more money they give the org and the politician.

The reporter was escorted out. He or she was escorted out after the headlines of Blasio speech were caught on video. What he said is not new and by itself would not have contributed no additional information about the knee- jerk fealty to AIPAC by the hopefuls for offices and the expectation of the Lobby.
I think there were other elements more disgusting,more sell- out ,more promises,and opportunistic dealings . Reporter was throw out or none invited to protect the lobby and the leader from exposure to American public .

Folks should consider sending him a letter. Not sure if this is best, but I used link to nyc.gov
to send this:
Mr. Mayor:
Regarding your appearance before the most important organization in the governance of New York City, AIPAC: I applaud your commitment to open discourse. Will it include discourse about the illegal settlements, the theft of land, the strategic seizure of aquifers, the bombardment, the uprooting of 2,000 year-old olive trees – but I digress.

We should all be proud of those who resist terrorism, including Palestinians who resist Israeli state terrorism – I digress again. Israel is indeed moving forward – into Palestinian territory, what little is left. You should know: you have been three times to Israel. But wait, not to Palestine, with Palestinian hosts to show you their resistance to terrorism. Are you waiting for an invitation? I can arrange it.

I know, I know, Saudi airliners don’t permit Israelis to fly with them. But then, Israel doesn’t permit Palestinians to fly at all, to enter Israel, to travel to university, etc. etc.

It’s true, as you say, the ties between the US and Israel couldn’t be deeper. They also couldn’t be lower, more mean, more violent, more immoral, more illegal. Yes, the Technion project in New York is transcendent: it transcends human rights.

Yes , you will answer the call from AIPAC anytime, because “that’s my job.” I wonder how your Arab constituents – also New Yorkers, last I checked – feel about that. Or for that matter the growing number of Jews like myself who are angry that politicians presume we support Israel’s brutal ethnic cleansing.

Mr. Mayor, if you must genuflect to AIPAC to get money and votes, please make sure it is not recorded next time so we can all save on cleaning bills from cleaning vomit off of our carpets after.

Here’s what I just wrote to our new mayor on the nyc.gov site, I encourage everyone dismayed about this to let him know what you think:
Mr. Mayor,
If, in fact, as I believe, you have a background of progressive positions and if you do believe in fighting against oppression, why won’t you take a stand against the oppression of the Palestinian people – the Palestinian citizens of Israel who are second class citizens there, those living in the West Bank, Christians and Muslims, who are living behind walls, with no access to the water under their ever shrinking land as the settlements expand and those living in the open-air prison of the Gaza Strip? Not to mention the oppression of the African refugees in Israel. You are the mayor of the City of New York. That includes about 370,000 Arabs, according to the US census. Do they not matter? And how about those of us who are Jewish, like me, a 60-something health care worker, 1199 member, who do not believe that “defense of Israel” (against open dialogue??) should be part of your job description. I don’t like it but I understand why you met with AIPAC and I understand why you tried to keep it a secret! But your comments were way over the top in slavishness to the lobby.
There’s a joke making the rounds – why doesn’t Israel want to be the 51st state? because then they would only have two senators. Schumer and Gillebrand are not the senators from Israel and you’re not the mayor of Israel. Please re-evaluate your position because what you said to the AIPAC meetings is turning off many New Yorkers who are progressive about Israel/Palestine as well as about so many other issues.
Sincerely,

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